McCarthy, a leading criminal figure and gunman, had up to five bullets pumped into his head as he stood in a chip shop doorway on Sheriff Street at 9pm.

McCarthy – who had 41 criminal convictions – was known as a drug dealer and robber.

His murder is the latest in the so-called north inner city feud.

The bloody war was sparked by the repeated sexual abuse by criminal Christy Griffin on his partner’s daughter.

McCarthy was closely aligned to the Griffin side in the feud.

Christy Griffin was sentenced to life in prison for the abuse, which lasted for up to eight years, throughout most of the little girl’s childhood.

Gardai maintainted a heavy presence in and around Dublin’s north inner city today, as forensic teams picked their way through the murder scene.

The dead man is believed to have himself fired shots in the ongoing feud.

McCarthy, of Oriel Street Lower, in Dublin 1, formed an integral part of Griffin's gang had previous convictions for robbery, drug offences as well as road traffic and public order.

He is reported to have carried out at least one previous gun attack on behalf of his gang.

McCarthy was shot in the face a number of times by a gunman who cycled by his victim.

The victim was standing in the door way of a fast food restaurant when he was assassinated in front of shocked passers-by. It is believed that the man was in the company of a number of friends when the gunman shot at him with a handgun.

He was rushed to the Mater Hospital by friends but was pronounced dead 40 minutes later by doctors.

There has already been three other murders directly linked to this dispute.

The scene of the murder remained sealed off today as garda forensic and crime scene teams continued their work.

A post-mortem examination of the dead man's body is expected later.

Store Street detectives led by Det Supt Padraic Kennedy are investigating the murder and are calling on members of the public who may have been in the Oriel Street/Sheriff Street area between 8pm and 9.30pm to come forward with any information on the incident.